Name: Seleta Hayes Howard
Kids: Two boys 11 & 4 and Two girls 8 & 6
Occupation: Wife, Mom + Lifestyle blogger- Simply Seleta
Hometown: Atlanta
H&H interview with Seleta:
1. What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?
Frozen organic blueberries (morning smoothies), locally grown organic kale (kids love it sauteed) and free range eggs.
2. What are you reading (honestly)?
Mostly Dr. Suess at bedtime with our budding young readers, ha haaa. But I just finished reading The Help and loved it!!!
3. What is your guilty pleasure when you get a break from the kids?
Champagne and starlit beach with my husband.
4. What would we be surprised to find in your purse?
Carrots in a ziploc bag for the horses my daughter and I ride every week.
5. What is your favorite reality TV show?
Wipeout. A hilarious family show to watch together. We cook big bowls of popcorn, pile up on the sofa and laugh and laugh…
6. What is your cocktail of choice?
Peach Bellini.
7. What is the funniest thing your kids have said or done lately?
Two doozies that reference how old my kids must think I am. First one: “Mommy, were you born in the 1800′s?” Second: “Did you know Jesus when he was alive?” I laughed pretty hard on that one!
8. What is your favorite quotation?
“You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution”
9. What are you currently working out to on your iPod?
“Goodies” by Ciara
10. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?
Andie MacDowell. From what I’ve read, she’s carefully guarded her kids from the media and raised them on a farm in her hometown to keep their life simple and real. Although her three children are now grown, I always had the impression that she was far more dedicated to her family versus her ego or career. I think that strong family connection is the basis for raising happy, healthy children. I was inspired by her answer in an interview where she was asked “what has been the highlight of your life so far?” She replied, “I definitely have to say my children.”
11. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I love catching frogs. If we’re driving home at night and it’s raining, I usually ask my husband stop the car so I can grab a few hoppers in the street to bring home. The kids will play with them, name them, and sometimes make them race each other. Then we turn them loose the next morning. A couple of weeks ago, one little frog happened to escape a jar in my son’s room during the night and greeted me in my bathroom early the next morning. That was a laugh!
12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?
I’m a big believer that our inner thoughts and reactions are directly connected to our health. I try to end each night or start each day reading something positive for a good frame of mind. I surround myself with positive, non-judging people and try my best to experience daily gratitude. Life obviously isn’t perfect so it’s challenging at times…but so important in experiencing genuine happiness. As far as exercise goes, our family is very active. I tend to rebel from any type of mundane routine, so everyday I try to do something different than the day before. Variety is so much more stimulating than doing the same thing over and over. Whether it’s the elliptical machine at the gym, jumping rope to my favorite tunes, handstands, stretching, or English horseback riding with my eight year old. I also teach ballet twice a week – once for my six year old and her friends and another at our local charter middle school.
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Name: Jill Knapp
Kids: 3 kids. Ages 12, 10, 5
Occupation: Full time mom, Motivational speaker, Diabetes Advocate, Health Coach
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA . Now living in Idaho.
H&H Interview with Jill:
1. What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?
Vegetables, Chicken, Milk
2. What are you reading (honestly)?
Project Organization by Marie Ricks
3. What is your guilty pleasure when you get a break from the kids?
Working out! For real! I love it and it’s the one thing I do for myself.
4. What would we be surprised to find in your purse?
A small devotional book I grab when I am stuck in a line or waiting for the Dr. My son’s cars.
5. What is your favorite reality TV show?
Toss up! Biggest loser and Dancing With the Stars.
6. What is your cocktail of choice?
I don’t drink but I would have to say: Spinach raspberry smoothie
7. What is the funniest thing your kids have said or done lately?
My 5-yr-old lost his tooth and said now let’s put it under my pillow. I said OK. He said can you get me some paper I want to make a list of the things I want from the tooth fairy. He started saying cars, sponge Bob toy, new star wars. I said wait a minute the tooth fairy only gives like a dollar. She won’t bring toys. He started to get a little upset and ran down the stairs saying “Whatever mom. Dad will help me make a list”.
8. What is your favorite quotation?
When the going gets tough the tough stay committed.
9. What are you currently working out to on your iPod?
I don’t use a iPod. I am doing the insanity DVD’s if you haven’t tried it, DO. They are so good!! I want that beach body in 8 weeks. LOL
10. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?
I don’t really follow celebrities but I love Reece Witherspoon. I love her movies and she has super cute kiddos.
11. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I love to sing. I may not be that good but I sing when no one is home.
12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?
1.EXERCISE!!
2. Eating 6 small meals a day. It really works!! I have lost 100 pounds and kept it off for 1 year and 7 mo.
3. Exfoliate. I am 43 yrs old and have done it since my 20′s. I think it helps you stay looking young.
4. Water, Water and more water.
5. Living my passion.
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Name: Michelle Murray
Kids: Thomas 9, Faith 7, & Madeline 3
Occupation: Recording Artist
Hometown: Chicago, IL, Hilton Head Is. SC & currently residing in Nashville, TN
H&H Interview with Michelle:
1. What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?
Only 3? Besides the basics- bread, milk & eggs; fruit, peanut butter, cheese, hummus or salsa, & the necessary dark chocolate.
2. What are you reading (honestly)?
Women’s Health, Joel Osteen & always various children’s books
3. What is your guilty pleasure when you get a break from the kids?
Well, I usually workout with any break from the kids, catch up with friends or watch a good show with some dark chocolate.
4. What would we be surprised to find in your purse?
Entertainer’s Secret Aloe Throat Spray or a pair of my little one’s (clean) socks-just found those the other day.
5. What is your favorite reality TV show?
Hmm…I don’t watch too much television and don’t have a favorite but when I do, I catch episodes of some of these: America’s Got Talent, Dancing With The Stars, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Survivorman, Dirty Jobs, Undercover Boss.
6. What is your cocktail of choice?
Funny you should ask because the “Michelle Murray Signature Cocktail” will debut as part of Bottles-Up Inc. Company launch on Oct. 19 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. I also enjoy a good Red Wine every once in awhile.
7. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I’m Italian and was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, even though I’m a Country Artist in Nashville- usually no one can guess my background. Also- that I played classical violin in orchestra for 14 years.
8. What is the funniest thing your kids have said or done lately?
Well, the funniest things always come out of our 3 year old-daily, however, I’ll never forget what our daughter Faith said when she was little and we were standing in the very crowded Santa Claus picture line. We were in that stage of learning the difference between boys and girls (her brother is 2 years older) so they liked to bring it up now and then- you know-who has what parts, so I thought we were sort of passed that when our daughter curiously asks out loud, very loud, in the Santa line, “So mommy, does Santa have a penis?” Oh great- what can you say to that in front of lots of people…so I simply replied, “Well, is Santa a boy? Then yep, Santa’s got a penis.” So- sorry to those other parents who probably had to have conversations later with their kids after hearing that-haha…..so much for discretion.
9. What is your favorite quotation?
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13
Also-I’ve seen this on motherhood: “If it were going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor” -Barbara Johnson
10. What are you currently working out to on your iPod?
I don’t workout with an iPod. I like to sweat, feel the burn and focus on the workout.
11. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?
I like many of them but I’ve always respected Martina McBride. Her husband is so involved in her career with their 3 children & I have always wanted to talk to her about her journey and how she balances it all.
12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?
Drink lots of water, eat well balanced meals, workout 4-5 days a week with a mix of strength training & cardio (running, biking), Pilates, yoga, etc… it’s definitely my lifestyle. I love doing anything active and I usually take my kids with me, they’ll bike while I run or do some of my workout DVD’s with me. I just do whatever I can whenever I can do it. Most importantly, trying to have balance and being happy & content with myself.
To find out more about Michelle follow her on Facebook, and Twitter and view her performance on youtube.
Written by Lea Barlow •
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Name: Jennifer Oppelt
Kids: a 5 year old girl, Alchemy Nirvana Oppelt
Occupation: Business Owner – Enliven Wellness Works, Inc. (work place wellness solutions)
Hometown: Born in Tampa, FL, raised in Cape Coral/Ft. Myers FL, but St. Pete is home!
H&H Interview with Jennifer:
1. What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?
Lots of water, organic mixed salad greens, Applegate Farms Roasted Turkey Breast (lunch meat with no antibiotics or nitrates….a lifesaver quick grab protein)
2. What are you reading (honestly)?
I’m always reading for education & inspiration, never for fun! Right now on rotation are Goals by Brian Tracy, The Zen of Eating by Ronna Kabatznick and a regular reference book for me is Anatomy of the Sprit by Carolyn Myss, oh and the IKEA catalog…that’s for fun!
3. What is your guilty pleasure when you get a break from the kids?
Shopping! Even if I don’t spend money, I find much pleasure in wandering around Target or TJ Max for an hour or more.
4. What would we be surprised to find in your purse?
Probably pretty typical of a working mom…crayons, stevia packets, a compact eco bag, ipod & lock for the gym, plenty of lip gloss, advil, bandaids, snacks.
5. What is your favorite reality TV show?
Biggest Loser…I don’t agree with the approach of such a fast weight loss but I love seeing the transformation that the contestants go through.
6. What is your cocktail of choice?
Red Wine, preferably Cabernet or Malbec
7. What is the funniest thing your kids have said or done lately?
It’s more sweet than funny but Alchemy will come up to me every now and then and say, “Mommy, thank you for making birth of me.” It melts my heart and I can’t bear to correct her grammar on that one!
8. What is your favorite quotation?
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
9. What are you currently working out to on your iPod?
Completely random! Beastie Boys, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Guns & Roses, The White Stripes, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Prince, Cindy Lauper, Lilly Allen, MIA…just to name a few.
10. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?
I don’t really get into celebrities too much but Demi Moore was the first that came to mind. I guess because she seems kind of down to earth, somewhat private about her family but not in a hiding way and she looks great!
11. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I clean like a mad woman just before anyone comes over. My house never looks as good as when I’m expecting company.
12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?
Organic food, balanced diet, tons of water, regular exercise, going to bed early, having fun with the family, date nights with my hubby and taking “me time” regularly by getting a massage, doing yoga or just wandering aimlessly around Target with no rush or agenda. Yep, I think that covers it!
Written by Lea Barlow •
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